Strangulation of 9-year-old N.Y. girl has city police asking public's help

August 18, 1992|By Michael James | Michael James,Staff Writer

Baltimore police say they have no strong suspects in the strangulation of 9-year-old Ebony Scott, and are asking for help from anyone who may have seen the victim in the hours before she was killed.

Two men who were questioned Sunday night in connection with the slaying several days earlier have been charged only with narcotics possession.

Police said they have no indication that the men had any involvement in the killing.

Both men live in the George B. Murphy Homes high-rise apartment complex in the 900 block of Argyle Ave.

The girl was found dead Thursday afternoon in a trash bin outside the building, and investigators raided the men's apartment Sunday after receiving a tip, police said.

A quantity of cocaine and "other evidence" was found in the apartment, according to a police report, but officials would not disclose whether any evidence pertains to the Scott case.

The state medical examiner's office determined that the cause of the girl's death was strangulation, said Sam Ringgold, a police spokesman.

Investigators also believe that the girl, who was last seen playing with other children Wednesday, had been sexually molested, according to police sources.

The victim, who was staying on the eighth floor of Murphy Homes with an older sister, had arrived in Baltimore last week from New York City to visit relatives in the area.

Police said the two drug suspects -- Elliot Ray, 45, and Anthony Banks, 40, both of whom live on the 13th floor of the building -- were being held at the Central District lockup last night on $3,500 bond each.

Last week, police questioned another man who lived in the building, but he was released without charges.

Homicide detectives yesterday released a picture of Ebony Scott that they hoped would generate information from the public.

Anyone who recognizes the girl or who may have seen her Wednesday is asked to contact the homicide unit at 396-2100.